Self-dumping grate.



W..G. MIZELL.

SELF DUMPING GRATB.

APPLICATION I'ILED APB.. 6, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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WILLIAM C. MIZELL, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SELF-DUMPING GRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

Application filed April 6, 1909. Serial No. 488,208.

To alt whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM O. MIZELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee,have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Dumping Grates, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to grates fork open replaces, the object of theinvention being to provide a grate which is adapted to automaticallydump under the weight of the clinkers and ashes thereon and to besecured in normal position, so that upon the release of the securingmeans the grate will automatically tilt to discharge the clinkers andashes.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a grate of thischaracter which is plvotally mounted and provided with a depending dooror apron to close the base of the fireplace, and which normally balancesthe weight of the grate and is overbalanced by the latter when a body offuel or ashes rests upon the grate, vcombined with means for holding theparts in operative position, so that upon the release of such means thegrate will tilt and deposit its load, while the door or apron will swingopen to permit of the removal of the ashes from the fireplace.

A still further object 0f the invention is to provide a grate of thecharacter described having a supporting frame of simple construction anda removable fender, the parts being so combined and arranged as topermit of their ready disconnection for removal, storage ortransportation, and their ready assemblage for use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed', reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a fireplace showing the application of the invention, the parts being arrangedin normal operative position. Fig. 2 is a vertical sec; tion on the lineA-B of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the gratetilted to dumping position and the apron,

swung outward. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the `rate frame. Fig. 5is a perspective view o the grate and apron. Fig. 6 is a similar view ofthe fender.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates an open fire place, within thelower portion of which is arranged the grate supporting frame, whichrests upon the hearth of the fireplace. This frame comprises a pair ofsubstantially triangular brackets 2 arranged in a horizontal positionand xedly or removably connected at the rear by a coupling rod 3. Fromthe front portion of each bracket rises a standard or upright 4providedvwith T-shaped slots 5 and an inwardly extending journal. Theframe is of proper width and depth to occupy the lower portion of theiireplace and may be suitably secured in position therein, if desired.

Thel grate 7 comprises an oblong rectangular concave-convex plateprovided with a series of spaced slots 8 for the passage of the ashesand upward circulation of air, and formed integral with the forward edgeof this grate and extending downwardly at right angles therefrom is apreferably imperforate plate 9, forming a door or apron to close thefront portion of the fireplace when the grate is in operative position,to conceal and prevent escape of the ashes therein. The combined grateand apron is provided with end recesses 10 forming open bearings todetachably engage journals 6 on the standards of the frame, by which itis pivotally mounted upon the frame.

The grate and apron form an element pivoted to swing in a vertical planein the fireplace, the grate being of greater weight than the aprontooverbalance the same and provide for an automatic dumping operation ofthe grate and swing the apron upward to uncover the front of thefireplace below the grate for the removal of the ashes, as hereinafterdescribed.

Figs. 2 and 3 clearly showthe mode of arrangement and mounting of theparts, from which it will appear that the front edges of the framebrackets 2 and standard 4 are flush with each other and with the frontwall of the fireplace, and that the grate and apron will conceal andprevent the ashes falling from the grate into the lower portion of theiireplace from escaping on to the front portion of the hearth. Fig. 3shows the grate tilted to a vertical position, andthe apron swung up toa horizontal position, which 'position the grate assumes in dumping itsload. The weight of the fuel supported by the grate is sufficient toovercome the resistance of the apron to the tilting of the grate, andtherefore, in use of the grate some suitable means must be provided tohold the parts in operative position. In the present instance l haveshown a turn button 11 mounted on the front of one of the brackets toengage the apron and hold the latter from outward movement, thusmaintaining the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2.

TWhen the turn button is retracted, it will be understood that the gratewill tilt downward under the weight of the ashes or fuel thereon anddump the same into the bottom of the lireplace, while the apron will beswung up to a horizontal position. In order to remove the ashes, it isthen simply necessary to swing the apron down to a slight degree to movethe grate upward, so that the ashes may be extracted by a shovel orsuitable type of rake.

A fender l2 is provided to cover the space at the front of the fireplaceadjacent to and above the grate, and comprises an oblong rectangularplate or casting of suflicient length and depth to fit between thestandards i. This plate is provided with slots or other suitableperforations 13 for admission of air to the space above the fuel andtoimpart an ornamental appearance thereto. Each end of the fender isformed with a pair of outwardly extending T-shaped holding lugs 14 whichare adapted to engage the T- shaped slots 5 in the standards to securesaid fender in operative position. The lugs are adapted to be firstiitted in the upper cross portions of the slots 5 and to then drop downinto the lower vertical portions of said slots with their crossy piecesbearing against the outer surfaces of the standards to secure the fenderin place, as well as to couple lthe frame brackets together at thefront.

It will be understood that the fender may be detached by a reversemovement from that described, and that the grate and apron may bereadily removed from the frame for kconvenient package in close compassfor storage or transportation. By removably senses connecting thebrackets 2 to the ends of the rod 3, the parts of theframe may be alsodetachably connected, so that all of the elements may be packed togetherin the closest possible space. l

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the construction and mode of use of my improved selfdumping grate willbe readily understood, and it will be seen that the invention provides agrate which may be readily applied to and removed from a replace,conveniently packed for storage or transportation, and which affordsmanifold conveniences in dumping and removing the ashes with a minimumamount of time and labor. Y

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, is :fY

l. The combination of a fireplace, an. element pivoted to swing in avertical plane in the fireplace, said element comprising a .fuel grateand an apron depending fromv the grate arranged when in normal positionto hold the grate in a substantially horizontal position and to closethe front of the fireplace below the same.

2. The combination of a fireplace, an element pivoted to swing in avertical plane in the replace, said element comprising a fuel grate andan apron depending from the grate arranged when in normal position tohold the grate in a substantially horizontal position and to close thefront of the tireplace below the same, said grate being of greaterweight than the apron for an automatic dumping Vaction and elevation ofthe apron, and means for holding the elements against movement tomaintain the grate and apron in normal operative positions.

3. A grate comprising a frame, a grate proper pivotally mounted on theframe, an apron connected with the normally outer edge of the grate andnormally overbalancing the same to hold said grate in a horizontalposition, said apron being arranged to normally hang pendent from thegrate to close the front of the space below the grate, and a fendercarried by the frame above the grate.

et. A grate comprising a supporting frame, an element pivoted to swingin a vertical plane upon said frame, said'element comprising a fuelgrate and an apron depending from the grate arranged substantially atright angles thereto soV as to close the front of the fireplace belowthe grate when the latter is in normal position, and fastening meansupon the frame to engage said apron to hold the parts in normal positionagainst tilting under the weight of fuel upon the grate.

5. A grate comprising a frame provided with journals and slots above thesame, a grate proper, an apron integral with the grate and arranged atright angles thereto,

said grate and apron being pivotally and In testimony whereof I aix mysignature detachably mounted upon said journals, a in presence of tWoWitnesses.

fender having locking elements to detachably engage the slots in theframe, and WILLIAM C' MIZELL' means for engaging the apron to normallyWitnesses:

hold the same in a Vertical position and the J. T. SNoDGRAss, grate in ahorizontal position. EDWARD HACKER.

